Is my dog having a stroke? What are the main stroke symptoms in dogs?

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Our pet emergency advice guides are accompanied by a "traffic light" rating. These ratings have been agreed upon by our team of vets and vet nurses and they tell you at-a-glance how serious the emergency situation may be, with red being the most severe.

Are dog strokes the same as strokes in humans?

The chance of your dog suffering a stroke, in the same way a human would, is fairly low. Ischaemic dog strokes, a sudden lack of blood supply to the brain, and haemorrhagic dog strokes, bleeding within the brain, are rare in dogs and usually less serious than in humans. What’s not so rare are stroke-like symptoms such as a head tilt or poor balance. These are often caused by a condition called idiopathic vestibular disease (IVD) which affects the mechanisms in the inner ear. The word idiopathic simply means arising from an unknown cause.

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If your vet suspects there may be another underlying cause then they may recommend further testing such as an MRI scan Symptoms

What are the symptoms of idiopathic vestibular disease?

A vestibular attack in dogs tends to happen when they’re aged at least eight years or older, although it has been known to affect younger pets, too. It usually sets in very quickly and symptoms include:

Loss of balance

Dizziness

Falling over

Unable to stand

Head tilted to one side

Eyes flicking from left to right (nystagmus)

Nausea and vomiting

Reluctance to eat and drink

Dogs affected can become quite distressed and disorientated. Commonly they will pant heavily and may not interact normally with their owner. It’s also a frightening condition for owners, as it’s so sudden and dramatic.

What are the symptoms of a stroke in dogs?

It often depends on what part of the brain has been affected but dog stroke symptoms tend to be similar to symptoms of IVD. They can also include abnormal eye movements or positioning, abnormal behaviour and even blindness. It’s worth bearing in mind that the incidence of strokes in dogs is relatively low. So, if you see these symptoms and they begin to resolve after a few days to a week, idiopathic vestibular disease is the more likely diagnosis.

Do dog strokes or vestibular attacks require emergency treatment?

While strokes in dogs are rarer than in humans, they do happen and require urgent treatment from a vet. IVD, on the other hand, often resolves itself without any treatment. Some dogs may have an IVD episode which lasts a few hours, and then be back to normal the next day, while others may suffer for several weeks.

Our strong advice is to contact your vet if you’re worried about your dog. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

While strokes in dogs are rarer than in humans, they do happen and require urgent treatment from a vet

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Could my dog be suffering from something other than a stroke?

There are a few other conditions which can result in similar symptoms to strokes and vestibular disease and an examination and blood tests may help to rule some of these out. If your vet suspects there may be another underlying cause then they may recommend further testing such as an MRI scan. This is usually only necessary if your dog has other symptoms which are not normally associated with IVD or if they’re not showing signs of improving.

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What is the treatment of IVD and strokes in dogs?

There is no specific treatment that can repair the damage done to the brain by a stroke. Your vet’s most likely course of action will be to focus attention on identifying a possible cause and treating it to prevent further strokes.

Likewise, until we understand the cause of IVD there’s nothing we can give to prevent or even treat it. However, where dogs are very nauseous we can give medication to help and in more severe cases where they struggle to hold down fluids, an intravenous drip may be required. Occasionally, sedation may be needed for dogs with severe disorientation.

If your dog is well enough to be nursed at home try to settle them in a quiet place and keep movement to a minimum until the dizziness subsides. Offer small amounts of water at regular intervals and hold off on food until any vomiting has stopped. Usually, symptoms will have improved considerably within 72 hours of onset.

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About the Author

Liron Levy-Hirsch

Liron is one of Vets Now's district vets, responsible for five pet emergency clinics in the London area. He is passionate about veterinary education and mentoring and he puts customer, patient and colleague care at the heart of everything he does. Liron qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2007 from the Hebrew University in Israel and has been working in the UK since 2009.

About the Article

Vets Now assumes no liability for the content of this page. This advice is not a substitute for a proper consultation with a vet and is only intended as a guide. Please contact your local veterinary practice for advice or treatment immediately if you are worried about your pet’s health – even if they are closed, they will always have an out of hours service available. Find out more about what to do in an emergency.

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Emergency Rating

Our pet emergency advice guides are accompanied by a "traffic light" rating. These ratings have been agreed upon by our team of vets and vet nurses and they tell you at-a-glance how serious the emergency situation may be, with red being the most severe.